Improvement in pavements



S. C. PRESCOTT.

Improvement in Pavements.

Pia tented June 18, 1872.

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHUBEAL C. PRESCOTT, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN'OR TO HOW- ARD SMITH, OF NEW YORK CITY, AND JEMIMA PRESCOTT, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,986, dated June 18, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHUBEAL O. PREscoTT, of Jersey City, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Making and Constructing Pavements for streets and walks, made of concrete composed of suitable material; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part thereof, and in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improvement.

Having thus stated the nature and object of my improvement I proceed to describe the mode or manner of its construction.-

The surface of the street, walk, or plaza is graded in any desirable form, made on a level or any declining grade. This surface being so graded is then rolled or otherwise made compact, so as to render the surface uniform and compact; wedge-shaped hand-boards are then used in making forms of any desirable size and shape, which are driven down below the surface in the earth to any desirable depth. The spaces or forms so made by the strips of boards are then filled with concrete. When the concrete has become solidified the several strips are then withdrawn, leaving an open space between the several concrete blocks so formed. The open spaces extending below the concrete blocks are then filled with concrete of an elastic or granulated nature to the surface of the surrounding blocks. The strips used in the forming the blocks may also be laid upon the surface of the street or walk, and then filled with concrete, and after removing the forms or strips, swedges may be driven down below the surface and then filled in the manner above stated.

By this mode of construction each block of concrete will be separated and divided from the other by a space filled with an elastic or granulated compound, thus avoiding the cracking or breaking of the blocks when in close connection or contact by the natural expansion of the several blocks caused by the change of temperature. The pavement can also be as readily taken up as flags or stones. The concrete in the several spaces between the blocks extending below the surface of the bed will tend to keep the earth upon which the blocks are laid more permanent, and not liable to be washed from under when the walk is laid upon a declivity in either streets, walks, or parks.

I do not claim, broadly, the method of lay ing a pavement in sections; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'-=- 1. The described method of laying a pavecompound extending below the lower surface of the block, as described.

SHUBEAL O. PRESCOTT. Witnesses:

W. S. HORNFAGER, JOHN H. BOWLES. 

